CD Reviews

Lovely and intimate music

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 12/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Merrill's recent run of discs for Verve/Gitanes has been a marvellous one--I'm thinking of _Clear Out of This World_ & _Brownie_--and this is no exception. The repertoire leans heavily on the songwriter Victor Young, who's perhaps best known for "Stella By Starlight". "Stella"'s not here, but instead excellent tunes like "Beautiful Love", "But Not Like This" & "Delilah" (the choice of this last surely another tribute to Clifford Brown, who recorded a classic version with Max Roach). The band is stellar--Tom Harrell on fluegelhorn (mostly) and trumpet, Masumi Kikuchi on piano, Charlie Haden on bass & Paul Motion on drums. All these players are in inventive form--Motion, for instance, plays completely nonstandard rhythms behind Merrill, and Kikuchi shows a fine sense of humour on "I Want to Be Happy", a delicate ear on "Young and Foolish". Harrell doesn't seem in good form compared to earlier outings on Merrill discs, sounding rather late-Chet-Bakerish or Don Cherryish. Merrill's singing is both intimate & intelligent; her version of "All of Me" borrows from Holiday but bears her own stamp, & "Young and Foolish" is poignant enough to draw tears."

A great album by a great singer!

N. Lucero | Mexico City | 07/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think this is a fine album- I especially enjoyed the "new" version of Beautiful Love, a tune Merrill did in the 50's-it is very moving. She is a fine, under - appreciated artist, one of the last of her generation, and is still producing good, creative work within the traditional jazz/vocal context.Buy it!"

Helen Merrill is the same intimate jazz singer today...

Aaron | Aaron | 03/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Helen Merrill is as great now, as she ever was. In fact she is the same intimate and cool toned vocalist that she was in the 50's. This Verve release is excellent. Merrill is excellent. Aside from Anita O'Day, Merrill is one of the top straight ahead jazz vocalists still performing today."

Helen and her band will cast a spell on you

A C SHIELDS | melbourne , australia | 10/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are not familiar with Helen Merrill , that is understandable as she is something of a secret . I was introduced to her music quite a while ago now and it was a happy day when I first heard her sing . I enjoyed her honesty , which came through loud and clear to my ears .

This album has a creative quality to it and one feels the musicians are doing their best to support Helen so she can communicate even more strongly , though she is able to do that very well on her own .

Helen sings a few standards in the album but there are also some co-written songs .

My favourite song on this record is Helen's version of 'Young and Foolish' , which can be devastating if you are in an introspective mood , but can still make you feel or recall those lifetime's moments where you've appreciated things .

If you like this album , you may like to go backwards to Helen's earlier albums . You will not be disappointed if you enjoy fine singing . I will not categorise this music as that seems to cheapen it for me and may mean some may not listen to this wonderful addition to anyone's collection . "